U.S. Oversight of Research Misconduct Is Seen as Hampered by Bureaucracy

David E. Wright stepped down last month as director of the federal Office of Research Integrity, citing his frustrations over bureaucratic hassles.

By Paul Basken

Washington

The federal office responsible for guarding against misconduct
in biomedical research is so hampered by bureaucratic turf wars
that it has been unnecessarily losing cases against suspect
scientists, the unit’s departing director said on Monday.

"Right now there’s no accountability" at the Office of Research
Integrity, said David E. Wright, who stepped down last month from
ORI after serving two years. "That’s a huge problem."